Birdsongs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A melodious or rhythmic vocalization made by avian species that serves various purposes including communication and attracting mates
2. The pleasant and often intricate sounds produced by birds, which vary widely among species and can enhance natural environments
3. The diverse and often harmonious calls and whistles emitted by birds, used for signaling, marking territory, or expressing emotions

Etymology: "Birdsongs" is simply the plural of "birdsong," a compound formed from "bird" and "song." Both parts are ancient English words: "song" comes from Old English "sang," and "bird" was an Old English word that originally meant a young bird or nestling before it came to name birds in general. Put together, the compound describes the vocal music of birds in the most literal way possible. Because "birdsong" is a transparent compound rather than a borrowed term, it has no foreign pathway to trace. Its meaning has stayed close to its parts, which is why the plural form simply pluralizes the final element, the way "songs" does for any other kind of singing.

Synonyms: birdcalls, chirps, tweets